Retirement looms for Murray

Andy Murray has admitted that the upcoming Australian Open may be the last tournament he plays, with retirement due to injury looming into view.

Ahead of the action in Melbourne an emotional Murray confirmed to the watching media that his battle with a long-term problem with his right hip is almost certainly lost.

The three-time Grand Slam champion hopes to be able to bow out at Wimbledon in the summer, but is unsure whether he can make it that far before being forced to call time.

He told reporters: "I'm not sure I'm able to play through the pain for another four or five months. I want to get to Wimbledon and stop, but I'm not certain I can do that.

"I'm not feeling good, I've been struggling for a long time. I've been in a lot of pain for about 20 months now.

"I've pretty much done everything I could to try and get my hip feeling better and it hasn't helped loads.

"I'm in a better place than I was six months ago, but I'm still in a lot of pain. The pain is too much really and I need to have an end point because I'm playing with no idea of when the pain will stop.

"I have the option of another operation which a little bit more severe - and involves having my hip resurfaced - which would allow me to have a better quality of life and be free of pain.

"That's something I'm seriously considering now. Some athletes have had it and gone back to competing, but there's no guarantee of that. If I had it, it would be to have a better quality of life."

Thirty-one-year-old Murray won Wimbledon in both 2013 and 2016, having broken his major duck with victory at the US Open in 2012, while he also claimed Olympic Gold medals in 2012 and 2016.

He was also the pivotal member of the Great Britain Davis Cup team who lifted the trophy in 2015.

Murray is scheduled to face Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round of the Australian Open and is 10/3 to beat the Spaniard, who is 2/9 to win the match and 11/10 to do so in three straight sets.